November 4, 2008

GIOELI EARNS MCDONALD'S RAM OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES
Senior tallies career-high in last game for VCU

RICHMOND, Va. – Senior Francesca Gioeli (New York, N.Y.) of the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer team will never forget her last game as a collegiate athlete. Not just because of it being her last game, but the way she went out will be a story that will be told in the Gioeli household for generations to come as the veteran tallied a career-high three points, including the game-winning goal in overtime, in a thrilling 2-1 defeat over perennial CAA power, James Madison last Thursday night.

Her clutch performance against the Dukes helped Gioeli earn McDonald's Ram of the Week accolades.

Although the Black and Gold were not able to capture a CAA Tournament berth due to Northeastern’s 2-1 overtime win at Hofstra, VCU was able to record its first win in Harrisonburg since 2002.

James Madison took an early 1-0 advantage, but Gioeli and the Rams stormed back after halftime when she found a cutting Laurel Pastor (Springfield, Va.) who blasted her ninth goal of the season into the back of the net to tie the game in the 53rd minute.

The Dukes controlled the tempo of play for much of the first overtime, but with 2:22 remaining in the second overtime Gioeli gathered a pass from fellow senior Megan Flanagan (Franktown, Colo.) and poked home the game-winner.

For the season, Gioeli tallied a career-best two goals and two assists for a total of six points.

During her stellar four-year career at VCU, she recorded five goals and two assists while playing in 66 games.